Leveraging Local Community Partnerships to Combat Nature Crimes | DFOP0016550

Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0016550

The grant opportunity titled Leveraging Local Community Partnerships to Combat Nature Crimes (Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0016550) is a discretionary federal grant focused on environmental protection and the rule-of-law challenges tied to nature crimes. It is administered by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES) under CFDA 19.017. The program is built around the idea that illegal and criminal exploitation of nature is not only an environmental issue, but also a national and global security concern because it weakens governance, drives corruption, and destabilizes communities.

The opportunity targets a broad set of "nature crimes," including criminal logging, illegal or criminal mining, wildlife trafficking and illegal wildlife trade, land conversion carried out through illicit means, and related criminal activities. It also explicitly includes crimes associated with fishing, recognizing that illegal, unreported, and unregulated practices and other fisheries-related crimes can have major ecological and economic impacts. The problem statement emphasizes that these activities can accelerate biodiversity loss, push species toward extinction, and contribute to the spread of disease across borders. It also highlights the economic harms: nature crimes can strip governments, Indigenous peoples, and local communities of natural resources and legitimate revenue, while funneling profits to criminal networks.

The central goal of the program is to increase global grassroots civil society engagement in addressing nature crimes. Rather than relying only on top-down enforcement or centralized initiatives, OES is seeking approaches that are rooted in local knowledge and community realities. The program is designed to elevate and support grassroots actors who are often closest to the impacts of illegal exploitation and may be best positioned to identify patterns on the ground, document harms, and mobilize community-based responses.

To carry out this goal, OES intends to fund one or two lead implementing partners that will form consortia with grassroots civil society organizations across multiple countries. In practice, this means the lead partner is expected to coordinate a network of local organizations and help deploy community-led strategies that respond to global trends in nature crime. The emphasis on a consortium model suggests the lead partner will likely be responsible for overarching program management, partnership building, subawards or collaboration structures, capacity support, and ensuring that local groups can operate effectively while aligning efforts across different geographies.

The outcomes OES is aiming for include stronger community and civil society capacity to expose nature crimes, greater accountability for perpetrators, and reduced profitability of these illegal activities. The program also frames success in terms of supporting environmental protection alongside local livelihoods, reflecting a recognition that communities facing nature crimes often need solutions that protect both ecosystems and economic well-being. Overall, the opportunity is focused on translating local insight into practical action that can disrupt criminal systems, strengthen deterrence, and protect vulnerable resources.

In terms of funding and basic parameters, the award ceiling is $4,000,000, with an expectation of up to two awards. The original closing date listed is July 24, 2024, and the opportunity was created on May 28, 2024. The eligible applicant type specified is private institutions of higher education, indicating that universities or similar private higher-ed entities are eligible to apply, potentially serving as the lead implementer that assembles and manages the international consortium of grassroots partners.

• The Bureau of Oceans - Int. Environmental - Scientific in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Leveraging Local Community Partnerships to Combat Nature Crimes" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.017.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-05-28.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-07-24. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $4,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for DFOP0016550

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